Wave-motor



(No Model.) 21811eets-Sheef '2.

T. H. LEMON & A. B. BARTLETT. WAVE MOTOR.

Pdfiented Sept. 2

I/VVENTORS 1TH Zemon.

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UNITED STATES PA ENT FFICE.

FRANK H. LEMON AND AUSTIN B..BARTLETT, OF REDONDO BEACH, CALI- FORNIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES M. BRACEWVELL, OF SAME PLACE, AND WILLIAM T. LA MBIE, JOHN F. HUMPHRE YS, JOHN F. FRANCIS, JAMES MCGOWVAN, JOHN R. MATHEWS, WVILLIAM A. HENRY, SARAH E. HICKS, LOWRY J. MATHEWS, AND CHARLES ELTON, OF LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA.

WAVE-MOTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,487, dated September 29, 1896.

' Application filed July 18, 1895. Serial No. 556,425. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK H. LEMON and AUSTIN B. BARTLETT, of Redondo Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wave-Motors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction and operation of wave-motors; and our invention consists in certain features of novelty hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure I represents a side elevation of our improved motor. Fig. II is a top view. Fig. 111 is a detail perspective showing a portion of the platform broken away in order to obtain a better view of the float. Fig. IV is a detail perspective of ratchet-gear and rack. Fig. V is a detail view of clamp for holding the outer end of the float suspended. Fig. VI is a detail perspective of rack and showing dog for holding the rack from downward.

movement when the dog has been thrown into engagement therewith. Fig. VII is a detail view showing ratchet pawls and teeth.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a series of piles driven into the bed of the ocean, and 2 a platform laid on the upper ends of the piles. The superstructure, consisting of the piles and platform, is built with its length extending at an angle with the line of the waves, the arrows in Fig. II indicating the direction in which the waves travel.

3 represents a series of floats having their side frames at preferably formed of I-beams, with an intervening floor 5, consisting of cross-timbers laid in close contact with each other. The outer ends of the frames 4 extend some distance beyond the floor 5 and have a transverse bar 6 extending through the same and extending a short distance beyond the outer sides of the frames. To the outer ends of the bar 6 are secured guideblocks 7, having grooves 8, said grooves engaging vertical rails 9, which are secured to certain of the piles.

The construction just described is for the purpose of holding the outer end of the float from endwise or sidewise movement,but which permits of a vertical movement and at the same time serves as a guide in the raising or lowering of the float.

10 represents a vertical mast pivoted to the inner end of the float, said mast being formed of several members. The lower member of the mast 10 is formed of a pipe-section ll, pivoted at its lower end to the float, as shown at 12, and having a collar 13 onits upper end.

'I he middle member of the mast consists of a solid rod 1%, which has its lower end telescoped into the section 11, with a head 15 thereon to prevent its withdrawal, the upper 65 end of the middle member having a collar 16. 17 represents a coil-spring on the middle member 14:, the ends of said spring pressing against the collars 13 16. The upper member of the mast consists of a rack-bar 18, connected with the middle member at 19. The body of the rack is preferably formed of channel-iron 20 and having its teeth formed of aseries of bolts 21, extending through the flanges of the channel-iron, said bolts being 75 provided with jam-nuts 22. The rack 18 meshes with suitable gear which connects with a line-shaft, whereby the vertical movement of the rack, either up or down, operates the line-shaft in a continuous direction.

The mechanism connecting the rack with the line-shaft may be of ratchet construction, or may be, if desired, some form of clutch mechanism. WVe do not desire to confine ourselves to any special power-transmittin g gear, but have shown a ratchet-gear which we will now describe, (first as the rack'moves upward.)

23 represents a sprocket-wheel with which the rack 18 meshes, said sprocket-wheel being mounted on a shaft 24.

25 represents a gear-Wheel on the shaft 24, which meshes with a gear 26, loosely mounted on a shaft 27, the gear 26 having an internal ratchet-gear 28, which when driven in the proper direction engages a pawl 29, secured rigidly to the shaft 27, said pawl serving to rotate said shaft and a gear 30 thereon, the gear 30 meshing with a pinion 31 on the lineshaft 32. As the stroke is reversed and the rack travels downward the sprocket-wheel 23is driven in the opposite direction, driving gears 33 34 and ratchet-gear 35, and through the means heretofore described continues to rotate shaft 27, gears 30 31, and the lineshaft 32.

36 represents a hand-screw which may have any suitable support 36, and 37 a yoke on the inner end of the screw, said yoke having a flanged roller 38 journaled therein, saidroller bearing against the rear side of the rack 18 and keeping it in engagement with the sprocket-wheel 23. The inner end of the yoke extends over the front edges of the rack-bar, and by manipulation of the screw the rack may be drawn out of gear with the sprocket-wheel when it is desired to stop the motor.

As it is desired at times to stop the movement of the float temporarily for the purpose of repairs, we provide a side rack 39 on the rack-bar 18, and a pivoted dog 40, which, when thrown into engagement with the rack 39, prevents any downward movement of the float, holding it at the highest point to which the waves have raised it until the dog is thrown out of engagement with the rack.

41 represents vertical bars having their lower ends pivoted to the bar 6 and having their upper ends extending through the platform 2, said bars 41 extending through a clamp 42, suitably secured to the platform, said clamp consisting of strips 43, secured together at 44 and having an intervening space 45, through which the bars 41 extend. 46 47 represent a bolt and hand-nut by which the bars 41 may be clamped and held at any desired height. Thus the outer end of the float may be regulated according to the height of the tide.

It is desirable in case of a severe storm to raise the float entirely out of the water and suspend it close against the under side of the platform. To accomplish this, we provide cables 48, secured to the four corners of the float, said cables extending up through the platform 2,passing over pulleys 49 and around drums 50 on shafts 51,said shafts having gears 52, which mesh with pinions 53 on a shaft 54.

55 represents a Pelton motor which revolves the shaft 54 and by the means described raises the floats.

In operation the floats are let down, as shown in Fig. III, into an inclined position, the inner end of the float extending into and rest-ing on the water and the outer end held from vertical movement, the bar 6 serving as a pivot for the float as its inner end raises and falls with the waves. As the shock occasioned by the impact of the waves is great est at the starting-point of the float on its upper course, we equalize the same by means of the telescope-section of the mast 10 in combination with the coil-spring 17, the spring receiving the shock and gradually distributing the power acquired.

By using a series of floats and setting them one in advance of the other, shown in Fig. II, (but not in line,) we are enabled to get a succession of effects of the same wave, and by connecting all the floats with the same line-shaft a continuous and positive power is acquired, as before the first wave has ceased its action on the most innermost float a succeedin g wave will be acting 011 the outer float, (see Fig. I,) and by our improved method of arranging the floats out of line there is no breaking up of the waves, each float receiving the same force of the wave as the preceding float.

\Ve claim as our invention- 1. In a wave-motor the combination, of a structure, a series of floats arranged one in advance of the other and in parallel planes to each other and having one of their ends adjustably pivoted, a line-shaft supported by the structure and means in connection with said floats for transmitting power to the lineshaft, substantially as set forth.

2. In a wave-motor the combination of a structure, a series of floats pivoted at one of their ends to the structure, said pivoted ends being fixed as to vertical movement while the float is in operation, a pivoted mast on the opposite ends of the floats, racks on the masts and suitable gear in connection with the racks, for transmitting power, substantially as set forth.

3. I11 a wave-motor the combination of a structure, a float pivoted to the structure at one of its ends, a rack-mast pivoted to the opposite end of the float said mast consisting of a tubular member, a member that telescopes into the tubular member and a rack member secured to the telescopic member, substantially as set forth.

4. In a wave-motor the combination of a structure, a float pivoted at one of its ends to the structure, a rack-mast pivoted to the opposite end of the float said mast consisting of a tubular member, a collar on the upper end of the tubular member a telescopic member having a collar on its upper end, a coil-spring on the telescopic member, and a rack member secured to the telescopic member, substantially as set forth.

5. In a wave-motor the combination, of a structure, a float adjustably secured at one of its ends to the structure, a rack-bar pivoted to the float, a side rack on said rack-bar and a dog pivoted to the structure for engaging said side rack, substantially as set forth.

6. In a wave-motor the combination of a structure, a float, a rack pivoted to the float, vertical guide-rails secured to the structure,

a shaft on the float, and guide-blocks on said shaft, which engage the guide-rails, substantially as set forth.

'7. In a wave-motor the combination, of a structure, a float having one of its ends ad- 3' ustably secured to the structure, a rack piv-' oted to the floats, vertical bars connecting the float with the top of the structure and a clamp for clamping said bars, substantially as set forth.

8. In a WEtVGJIIOEOIIhG combination of a structure having a platform, a line-shaft mounted on the platform, gear connecting with the line-shaft, a float, a rack connecting said float With the gear, drums mounted on shafts on the platform, a motor mounted on ing-levers provided with floats fixed to their outer ends, rack-bars pivoted to the outer ends of said levers, and suitable gearing in connection with the racks for transmitting power.

FRANK I-I. LEMON. AUSTIN B. BARTLETT. \Vitnesses:

WM. P. HIoKs, N. E. DEVORE. 

